ADSL noob - please assist^^

[Acros]

Hi guys

I want to get ADSL at my house. Looked at lots of threads regarding capped vs uncapped. Afrihost vs Mweb. Telkom line vs Afrihost/mweb line ect ect.

First of the installation. The house used to have a landline but doubt its activated. I obviously have to get Telkom to install a DSL cable? I tested my location on the Telkom coverage website. According to them I can go for a 4mb VDSL line. So far VDSL just seems like a faster line than ADSL? My first question...

(1.)None of the providers mention anything about VDSL so I don't know if there will be a difference in a 4mb VDSL and 4mb ADSL? or is VDSL just like 20mbps and high rate lines?

(2.)Secondly if I want to get a 4mbps package I must install a 4mb line?

So Telkom ask me R299 a month just for the ADSL line and I think you have an option not to get a landline. If you do you must pay around R400 something a month for both. So the R299 is just for the ADSL line at Telkom? Now this is the crucial part. Afrihost and Mweb obviously ask less for the lines if you installed it already.
(3.)By moving the line over to the 3rd party must I still pay Telkom any monthly fee?

I don't feel like paying around R450-R500 month to Mweb/Afrihost and then to pay Telkom a fee for no reason. Then it would be better to pay like R200 for the package then the R299 to Telkom. Up till now 50% of people says to move the line and 50% says to keep the line at Telkom obviously for the Pros and Cons. I just want the cheapest option. So far this seems like a grey area.

Next up I looked at an Uncapped 4mb line. R199 fro MWeb and R147 for Afrihost. However after lots of reading it seems capped might be much more stable since the capped packages don't get shaped and throttled such as uncapped. I also don't see myself using 200Gb a month. I mainly want it for online gaming (hence it must be stable). My wife will check pinterest and all that data draining social image pages. Since now we had 5GB/5GB night owl 3G for R200 a month which worked ok but we run out of daily data around the 20th.

(4.)So will a capped line be more stable than an uncapped line?

Lastly (5.)what else do I need? just a router? I need stable internet on my PC and would want to make a wifi spot for the cellphones. That's about it.

Thanks in advance

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

1. Telkom uses ADSL technology for line speeds up to 10mbps (and even some 20mbps) and then VDSL technology on the 20 and 40mbps lines.

2. DSL runs on the same single voice line. You cannot get DSL as of yet without paying Telkom the voice line rental as well.

3. Yes, you still need to pay Telkom the monthly voice line rental of plus minus R200.

4. Capped and Uncapped has nothing to do with your line nor stability. Line and data are two different services. Uncapped generally works fine if you don't plan on raping the connection.

5. You'll need DSL filters for each telephone if you plan on using the phone. You normally get one in the box with a modem (not just a router).

 

[Lord Farquart]

If you know your usage, go for capped. It is usually cheaper.

 

[Acros]

1. Telkom uses ADSL technology for line speeds up to 10mbps (and even some 20mbps) and then VDSL technology on the 20 and 40mbps lines.

2. DSL runs on the same single voice line. You cannot get DSL as of yet without paying Telkom the voice line rental as well.

3. Yes, you still need to pay Telkom the monthly voice line rental of plus minus R200.

4. Capped and Uncapped has nothing to do with your line nor stability. Line and data are two different services. Uncapped generally works fine if you don't plan on raping the connection.

5. You'll need DSL filters for each telephone if you plan on using the phone. You normally get one in the box with a modem (not just a router).

Ok thanks Smart@ss XD

So if I can get uncapped cheaper than the capped option and still only use about 100gb-200gb (or even less) throughout the month the connection won't throttle or be shaped? I might not even get to 100gb but lets say I have once a game to download that is 80gb big I don't want it to be an issue that month.

So then keeping the line with Telkom will be a better option since ..
Example: I will only pay R299 (telkom dsl line) + R147 (uncapped package).. instead of having the line with Afrihost and paying them R147(uncapped package) + R279 (dsl line) + R199 (Telkom voice line)?

 

[Scary_Turtle]

Ok thanks Smart@ss XD

So if I can get uncapped cheaper than the capped option and still only use about 100gb-200gb (or even less) throughout the month the connection won't throttle or be shaped? I might not even get to 100gb but lets say I have once a game to download that is 80gb big I don't want it to be an issue that month.

So then keeping the line with Telkom will be a better option since ..
Example: I will only pay R299 (telkom dsl line) + R147 (uncapped package).. instead of having the line with Afrihost and paying them R147(uncapped package) + R279 (dsl line) + R199 (Telkom voice line)?

You have to pay for the voice line no matter where you go.

The only small amount you can save is Telkom line rental which is R299 from Telkom and R279 from just about everyone else.

You are pretty much stuck to R700 a month, most of the ISP's have a night time function where you can download as much as you want. So for your big downloads schedule them from 12pm-6am and you sorted.

 

[Acros]

Thanks guys. Thanks Scary_Turtle.

You see that is what bothered me cause on Telkom's website I chose my options and they never mention the voice line. Even until I try to finalize the choice the max amount stayed R299. So I assumed the voice line was included in that amount. There was a R199 option for landline but obviously don't want one.

And yes I see both provide Uncapped during midnight on their capped packages so I can even get a lower capped account and do any bigger downloads after 12 since if I really needed.

 

[Devo1]

Thanks guys. Thanks Scary_Turtle.

You see that is what bothered me cause on Telkom's website I chose my options and they never mention the voice line. Even until I try to finalize the choice the max amount stayed R299. So I assumed the voice line was included in that amount. There was a R199 option for landline but obviously don't want one.

And yes I see both provide Uncapped during midnight on their capped packages so I can even get a lower capped account and do any bigger downloads after 12 since if I really needed.

It stayed at R299 because you were ordering a ADSL line. In order to 'order' an ADSL line, you must already have a voice line. You will see further on in your order they will ask for your landline / voice line number to proceed.

You must first apply for a voice line. After that you can apply for the ADSL line.

 

[Acros]

It stayed at R299 because you were ordering a ADSL line. In order to 'order' an ADSL line, you must already have a voice line. You will see further on in your order they will ask for your landline / voice line number to proceed.

You must first apply for a voice line. After that you can apply for the ADSL line.

Thanks. makes more sense now. Just didn't want to subscribe to unnecessary stuff if I didn't need to.

 

[Acros]

Ok so Telkom is pretty clever to get new members hooked. The Line and adsl line rental will be R498 pm currently. If I went to either a 100gb capped / 150gb capped / uncapped afrihost my monthly costs would range from a total of R577 - R643 per month. + I would need to buy a router and the installation fee is around R790 if I'm not mistaken.

Telkom provide a 4mb uncapped (apparently only throttled above 250gb up) for a total of R599 pm. So technically I only pay R100 for uncapped 4mb adsl. The biggest advantage being that the installation fee is included on a month to month package. On a 24 month package I get a free router as well but I would rather not be stuck on a contract for 2 years if the service sucks.

So I think I will try Telkom uncapped first. If its bad I could always go to one of the main ISPs since I'm not stuck. And I score the R790 which helps. Now should I go for a decent or entry level router? I'll go look on the forum so long for topics on that^^ thanks